Americans rejoice following long-awaited death of Osama bin Laden

Mario Tama/Getty ImagesKevin Van Orden, whose brother is in the U.S. Army, celebrates outside the World Trade Center site after the death of accused 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden was announced.

At Times Square and Ground Zero, on trains and in the streets, on sidewalks and in living rooms before the television, Americans celebrated the death of the Osama bin Laden today as if a war had been won.

They sang the national anthem, chanted "USA, USA" and screamed the Pledge of Allegiance, they burned a picture of the terrorist leader and blared horns on ships passing by on the Hudson.

Nearly a decade after the Sept. 11 attacks masterminded by bin Laden claimed 3,000 lives, the country reveled in one of its few tangible victories since launching its global war on terror.

"It’s been an open wound," said Norm Barber, 62, of Brooklyn. "You don’t forget. There’s a time for justice and tonight was it."

While Americans rejoiced in a day some thought would never come, the nation went on high alert as officials worried about possible retaliation for bin Laden’s death. Security was beefed up at airports, rail lines and other key transit points.

At the same time, new details about the killing of bin Laden emerged. After years of fruitless searching, intelligence reports had pinpointed bin Laden’s location in Abbottabad, a town near Pakistan’s capital, senior administration officials said. He was living in a fortress-like compound less than one mile from a military academy for top Pakistani officers, the Associated Press reported.

Elite U.S. forces, dispatched by President Obama, descended by helicopter on bin Laden’s hideout under cover of night today in Pakistan. The al Qaeda leader fought back and was killed in a firefight by a shot to the head, senior administration officials said.

"Justice has been done," Obama announced at the White House.

Afterward, the U.S. troops took bin Laden’s body and buried him at sea, denying a marked final resting place for America’s most wanted and despised fugitive. Muslim tradition requires the dead to be buried within 24 hours.

Also dead in the raid were three adult men, including one of bin Laden’s sons. Senior administration officials said a woman was killed when she was used as a human shield. No Americans were killed.

The compound was left burning when the U.S. forces flew away.

The structure, built five years ago at a cost of $1 million was described as having "extraordinary" security measures, including walls up to 18 ft. tall and topped with barbed wire.

Although some experts have questioned the continuing importance of bin Laden to al Qaeda’s decentralized terrorist network, the charismatic leader had remained a powerful symbol.

"There’s nobody in the world that can take his place," said former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean, who headed the 9/11 Commission. "It will be an al Qaeda without his inspiration.

Bin Laden’s taped dispatches were a constant reminder of how he had eluded capture or death, starting with his escape from the mountains in Afghanistan’s Tora Bora region shortly after U.S. forces invaded.

President Barack Obama announces the death of Osama bin Laden.President Barack Obama announced late Sunday night that the United States has killed Osama bin Laden and has custody of his body. Obama said bin Laden, 54, the leader of the Al-Qaida organization terrorist organization responsible for the Sept. 11 atacks, was killed in a firefight by American special forces outside a mansion near Islamabad, Pakistan.

This morning small memorials were set up along Chuch Street near Ground Zero. Most had candles, signs and flowers. The new World Trade Center tower, still under construction, rose in the background. Many of the construction workers wore American flag pins or patches. Some had flags attached to their yellow construction vests.

"This is New York, we can’t be kept down," said Frank Sturiano, 35, of Queens.

The night before, word of bin Laden’s death had leaked out shortly before Obama’s announcement, and revelers quickly began streaming toward the White House and Ground Zero. Three friends in Sussex County heard about bin Laden’s death on Facebook last night, and went straight to the train station. They were in Manhattan by about 2 a.m.

"I think we sang the national anthem like four times," said Kevin Van Orden, 19, who was dressed in his older brother’s Army fatigues.

Derek Smith, also 19, said they went to Ground Zero to pay their respects to the victims of the terror attacks.

"It happened when we were in fourth grade, that’s more than half my life," he said. "That day changed everything."

More people gathered in Times Square to celebrate, waving American flags and cheering as "Bin Laden dead" scrolled across the news ticker. Some wrapped American flags around their waists, shoulders, or heads. Others were in pajama pants, looking as if they ran out the door to celebrate the minute they heard the news.

Pravesh Shiwnaraia and Vinay Roopchan, both of Queens, held a large American flag between them.

"We’re proud to be Americans tonight," said Roopchan, 21. He added, "It’s not all in vain anymore."

"We waited for this day," said Shiwnaraia, 27.

Others struck a more subdued tone.

"It’s not about celebration," said Daniel Epstein, on vacation with his family from Los Angeles. "It’s about finishing something that should’ve been done a long time ago."

As a precaution against retaliatory attacks, the U.S. State Department placed its embassies on alert. The department issued a worldwide travel alert saying there was an "enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counterterrorism activity in Pakistan."

New Jersey officials said they were monitoring the situation.

"We have no specific information regarding retaliatory actions but will be on alert," said Charles McKenna, director of the state’s Department of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said it will add more police at airports, bridges and the World Trade Center site itself today. The action is being taken "out of an abundance of caution," the agency said.

In his announcement last night, Obama called on the country to band together in memory of the Sept. 11 victims and appreciation of America’s military.

"Let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11," he said. "I know that it has at times frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country."

Indeed, all corners of the country’s political establishment hailed the accomplishment. Former Vice President Dick Cheney, who has harshly criticized Obama’s national security policies in the past, issued a statement saying bin Laden’s death was "a victory for the United States and a tremendous achievement for the military and intelligence professionals who carried out this important mission."

In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie issued a statement last night saying, "There is hardly a life that has gone untouched in New Jersey by the horrifying assault on American soil that took place on September 11th and today, after years of waiting, justice has finally been delivered."